Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 3,576, Elihu Fish, Privateer R.I.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Private P.I.
Fish, Elihu
R. 3,576
CONTENTS

3 A 59. April 2, 1839 Pension Offic.
Rd.
Elihu Fish.
Wm. J. McQuesten Secretary of War. Washington City.

Providence March 27 th 1839.
Sir, I herewith forward the Statement of my aged Uncle Elihu Fish of Scituate R.I. signed and sworn to by him, as evidence of his claim to a Pension for revolutionary services. He is seventy eight years of age. He has not been able, nor have I as his agent, to find any survivors of those who were with him in the wars. This defect in evidence is supplied, by the Certificate accompanying his statement, which it is hoped will prove satisfactory. One of them is given by Hon. Joseph Eaton who has been a highly respectable judge in the Courts of Connecticut for many years. Another is by Mr Elkanah C. Eaton, his brother, a large land holder, of respectable character, and a the mail contractor, who is probably known personally at the Post-office Department. The third is by Walter B. Sanforth Esq. Collector of the Customs for the District of Providence, which office he has held from the commencement of the presidential term of Pres t . Jackson, and well known to the President, and to the Secretary of the Treasury.
The applicant is now far advanced in life, and quite infirm, and cherishes a hope that, before its close, he shall

receive that remuneration for his services, and his imprisonment, in cause of Independence, which the Pension laws have provided. It is hoped that his age, and his infirmities, will be inducements for a speedy action on his application; as a grant, after a long delay, would probably find him laid away amongst the most of his compatriots of revolutionary days.
With great respect,
I am Sir
Your Obedient Servant.
Isaac Fish
Honble J. R. Poinsett. Secretary of War.

F39
Elisha Fish R.I.D act 7 June 32-
at 1. Mt. of ...

The following contains a Biographical sketch of the undersigned giving an account of the various employment and patriotic services rendered the United States in and through the War of the revolutionary struggle with Great Britain for an Independent Government —
Commencing in the year 1776. At the time being then an apprentice 19 years of age to Edmund Townsend of Newport R.I. Cabinet maker. And at that time there was three British Sloops of War. One Brig and one Schooner lying in the harbor of Newport R.I. — The Rose Sloop of War Capt. Wallis, and the Glascow Sloop of War Capt. How, and the Severn Sloop of War. Capt. Asque, Who was constantly committing Depredations by plundering the Inhabitants of Stock and such other property as suited their convenience, to the great annoyance & constant aggravation of every patriotic mind. — This fleet would occasionally leave the harbor on a cruise two or three days at a time in search for Prizes among our shipping inward bound, The Inhabitants of Newport being thus afraid by this British force, came to a determination to raise a force (if possible) sufficient to drive this fleet from the harbor. But being destitute of Guns and other munitions of War fitted out a Sloop for Providence manned with Volunteers in order to procure supplies I was one of the crew of 25 or 26. That volunteered improving the first opportunity when the fleet was out of the harbor. we sailed for Providence & returned without obtaining such supplies as we wanted. At Length the Glascow left the harbor and went out on a cruise alone, While the residue of the fleet went up the river committing depredations among the Villages & Islands between Newport & Providence viz — Burning houses plundering stock &c. —
The Glascow, at Montaug point on the east end of Long Island, fell in with Comadore Hopkins's Fleet, on his secret expedition to New Providence (a West India Island) came to an engagement in which she was much damaged in her rigging and otherwise, but finally succeeded in getting back into the harbor where she remained till Next morning when the Inhabitants of Newport (myself being one so managed as to bring some large guns to bear on the Glascow at anchor in the harbor and so well was our fire directed that she cut her cable leaving her anchor, and again succeeded in again getting out to sea, and Fleet returned, —
The remainder of the Fleet also immediately went out to sea in search for Com. Hopkins's Fleet, And they Fleet returned. —
After the Fleet finally left we undertook and succeeded in getting up

up the anchor of the Glaser and what cable she left, while in the act of getting up this cable & anchor, a prize Schoon belonging to the fleet having got lost in a dense fog came into the harbor to be protected by the Glaser and not finding the Glaser as was expected under-stood to get out again to sea but was boarded & retaken.
In the month of August following I shipped on board the privateer Schoon Greenwich Capt. Job Pierce which sailed on a cruise and was out two months and a half having taken three prizes viz. one ship and two Brigs.
In the latter part of the year 1776 and the beginning of the year 1777 I was a soldier one month, served half a month in the company of Capt. Roy, and half a month in the company of Capt. Edmond Johnson, Stationed at Greenwich R.I. — And I also served in the Militia one month in Spencer's expedition to retake the Island of Rhode Island.
I stood in the draft of one half of the Militia in the Town of Coventry in that expedition but was not drafted to go as a drafted soldier, but went as a volunteer in the company of Capt. Wm. Roy, and rendered the duties as above stated and found my own aquipage.
I shipped on board (I think) the Schoon Providence in December 1777 — at Providence R.I. sailed the first day of January 1778 with a large cargo of tobacco bound to Surinam under the command of Thomas Jackson under commission or letter of marque she carried six, six pound cannon together with some carvines & small arms with a crew of about sixteen men including Capt. Eboon of Dartmouth the Chief Mate and William Brown second Mate & prize Master admitting we took a brig. We outside the harbor of Surinam the 30th of Jany. two British privateers as we supposed came out of the harbor and chased us till 12 o'clock at night, when we hove about and stood in for the land and when we made it, we found ourselves about 80 miles to Leeward of the harbor. We then put away and run down between Barbadoes and Tobago to the Island of Grenada where we sold our cargo and sailed from thence about the last of February for home about five days but while running down the south side of Port Rico we were discovered by a British brig in the offing which proved to be (I think) the brig Venus commanded by Capt. John Under of North Carolina of which his son was sailing master and his first Lieut. was the Capt. of a Liverpool Merchant Brig. while which had been taken by an American privateer. The second Lieut. was mate of an English brig. That I was at the capturing off in the year 1776 — who hailed and called me by name before I got on board the privateer to know of me if that was not the Schoon Greenwich. He was the only friend I had belonging to the privateer, from thence leaving Portico — Passage Maid sail for New York. The privateer that had taken us had taken on that cruise —

Prison ship, she was so reduced in her crew that she was obliged to go in & recruit, We arrived in New York some time in March 1780. We was there put on board the Prison ship (I think) called the scorpion in the North river and there remained untill the 17th of May following then being exchanged and went over to Elizabeth Town point the same evening in a flag of truce. Next morning landed and went up to Elizabeth Town & took breakfast, thence set out for Woodbridge and I so feeble health as to be unable to travel 10 miles a day the first day traveled about six miles, being after daylight down put up for the night, not being able before able to find a place to stay, I went up with a young single man in company with a ship mate and in the morning being both so much more out of health as to be unable to travel as attempt it and lost on ascertaining our situation applied to a neighbor and proposed to him to take care of one of us & he wanted the other be consented and my companion went and I stayed where I was & continued to stay nine days, and was treated with every attention and kindness that I could wish for, untill my health was sufficiently recovered to enable me again to resume my journey for home without being able to remunerate my kind host for his care of me through my stay at his house, but I have since say with about fourteen years since called at the same house found my young friend had been married and was dead who left a family of five children one son and four daughters with whom I left an acknowledgment of my sincere gratitude to their venerated Father for his past favors and kindness to me at the time above stated as will fully appear by a letter since received from the son in behalf of the family directed to Thomas Fishbone my nephew of New York —
And further Memorand m with not. Ebenezer Fish
Notwithstanding the above, I was taken prisoner again the same year and put on board the Strumbula prison ship lying in the North river remaining there two or three weeks, and then transferred on board the Jersey Prison ship, and there remained untill about the middle of December, and then put on board a flag ship and landed at New London and there discharged and started for home —
Providence R.I. At Teste this 23rd day of March A 1839.
Then personally came Ebenezer Fish Esq. signed to the foregoing statement and made oath as the law directs that the same is true and that he is a person fully entitled to credit for truth & integrity
Before me. Relig Man Justice of the Peace

5036.
REJECTED
P. O. Elisha Fitt
Service: Elisha Fitt
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____ _____
Re-enlisted: _____ _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____ _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18

3-76
Let. Isaac Fish Apr 6: 1839.

The Hon ble J. R. Poinsett Secretary of War City of Washington
684

I, Joseph Eaton of Plainfield in the County of Windham, and State of Connecticut, do certify and say - that Mr. Elihu Fish of Foster in the County of Providence and State of Rhode Island resides about twelve miles from this Town. - and that he has been personally known to me more than forty years. - Mr. Fish is now I should say about twenty eight or nine years of age - during all this time he has sustained a fair moral character and has ever been respected for probity, industry & uniform course of correct conduct. His Reputation for integrity and veracity is such, wherever he is known, would secure and very justly so - full faith and credit to his representations. March 25 th 1839. Joseph Eaton -
I, Hannah C. Eaton of the above Town of Plainfield County & State do certify that I have been personally acquainted with Mr. Elihu Fish for nearly the above length of time & do fully concur in all that is stated in the above certificate. Hannah C. Eaton

Honble J. R. Poinsett,
Secretary of War, Washington City.
254

Providence March 27. 1839.
Sir,
For more than thirty years, I have been well acquainted with Mr. Elihu Fish of Scituate, R. I. now an applicant for a pension for revolutionary services and sufferings in prison ships during the war. Mr. Fish, I should think, is nearly eighty years of age, but has vigor of intellect, and a memory but little impaired. He has always sustained a fair, moral character; and his reputation for truth and veracity has never been questioned. I have read the statement, which he has subscribed and sworn to, and have no doubt of its correctness and truth. From a declaration of truth, I believe no temptation of interest would induce him to swerve. He is now old, and physically infirm, and could not expect long to enjoy the pension, should his application be successful.
Very respectfully,
Your Obedient Servant,
M. H. Davenport. 52 yrs of age
Honble J. R. Poinsett, Secretary of War.

62
Copy of Letter —

Lyons Farm Wednesday June 7 th 1826
Dear Sir your friendly letter of June 5 th announcing the generous intention of presenting us with a set of Silver Spoons by our respected friend Elisha Fish Esq d has been received and with gratitude in behalf of myself and Sisters accept the generous present not so much on account of their intrinsic value (though it is considerable) as from a high sense of honor from the gratefull donor and the particular mark of respect to the memory of our long deceased Father, Oh if he were living how would he probably with pleasure recount over with our Friend, the courage the patriotism & firmness to the cause of liberty displayed by our Father in the revolutionary contest - as well as sympathies over the many hardships & calamities that befell our countrymen at that eventfull period - you will be pleased to present our acknowledgements to Mr. Fish and as the friend of our Father will be ever dear to our memory should his life and health be preserved as we sincerely hope it may, and convenient to make us a visit, We shall be truly happy to see him
Accept our thanks for your friendship and courtesy and believe me to remain
Very Respectfully yours
Signed Josiah Meek
Mr. Thomas Freeborn
In a few days I am in Boston - he is in your city & with pleasure will give you a call
Copy -